Ashes: Australia batters vying for spot in team to face England

With Steve Smith at number four and Travis Head at five, Australia look to have a solid and stable engine room.

However, they are yet to find an established number three who can soak up pressure or build on a dominant foundation.

After a run-laden start to his career, Labuschagne, 31, appears to have dropped out of favour, though a good start to the domestic season could change his fortunes.

McSweeney, who made his Test debut as an opener against India last winter before being replaced by Konstas, appears the man the selectors fancy given he batted there in the recent India A series.

The 26-year-old right-hander impressed in the second of the two-match series, which India won 1-0, with scores of 74 and 85 not out.

He could, of course, be considered as an opener too. That would open the door for the likes of Marcus Harris, who scored more than 1,000 runs for Lancashire in the second division of the County Championship this summer at an average of 60.

Perhaps the most likely candidate to step up is all-rounder Cameron Green, which would allow Australia to also play Beau Webster at six – boosting their seam-bowling options and taking some of the pressure off the likes of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, who may all be playing their final Ashes series.

Green, 26, averaged more than 50 in 2024 and is approaching his best years with 32 caps to his name.

“I think Cameron Green is an amazing cricketer,” said Campbell. “Once he starts bowling again, he adds another dimension for Australia.”

Green batted at first drop in the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s, and then in three Tests against West Indies this summer.

On difficult pitches, he impressed in the Caribbean, passing 40 in three of his five innings.

If we look at individual batting records in the Sheffield Shield last summer on Test grounds in Australia (Adelaide Oval, Gabba, MCG and SCG), 32-year-old Kurtis Patterson (383 runs at 63.8) stands out for runs scored, with the highest average belonging to Queensland’s uncapped left-hander Jack Clayton (285 runs at 71.3).

It all adds up to an intriguing few weeks in Australian domestic cricket, and when Australia’s white-ball team face New Zealand and India. Follow the action via BBC Sport’s scorecard service here.

Source link